New Voices Pittsburgh and friends are excited to join every single country around the world in participating in a global day of action to end gender-based violence.

We are honored to have Terrain Dandridge of the NJ4 join us in Pittsburgh to share her story and screen the powerful documentary film “Out in the Night”, which tells the story of 4 young women who became criminals for defending themselves.

Please join us as we come together to witness the powerful story and to hear about the work Terrain and all of the NJ4 continue to do to build the power and leadership of LGBTQ Youth of Color.

With Liberation in Our Hearts,
One Billion BEEN Rising for Justice Pittsburgh

Tickets will be $5-$10 sliding scale and can be purchased at the door. Please call 412.363.4500 or email info@newvoicespittsburgh.org for any questions or concerns you may have.

About the film:
Out in the Night is a documentary that tells the story of a group of young friends, African American lesbians who are out, one hot August night in 2006, in the gay friendly neighborhood of New York City. As they and their friends walk under the hot neon lights of tattoo parlors in the West Village, an older man sexually and violently confronts them. He says to Patreese “let me get some of that” as he points below her waist. When she says that they are gay, the man becomes violent and threatens to “fuck them straight”. He spits and throws a lit cigarette. Renata and Venice defend the group and a fight begins, captured by security cameras nearby. The man yanks out hair from Venice’s head and chokes Renata. Then, Patreese pulls a knife from her purse and swings at him. Strangers jump in to defend the women and the fight escalates. As the fight comes to an end, all get up and walk away. But 911has been called and the man involved has been stabbed. Police swarm to the scene as their radios blast out warning of a gang attack. The women are rounded up and charged with gang assault, assault and attempted murder.

Three of the women plead guilty. But Renata, Patreese, Venice and friend Terrain claim their innocence. They are called a “Gang of Killer Lesbians” by the media. In activist circles they become known as The New Jersey 4.

]]>https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/out-in-the-night-film-screening-with-terrain-dandridge/feed/0outinnight1billionpghoutinnightPittsburgh Rises Against Gender Based Violence on Valentine’s Dayhttps://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/pittsburgh-rises-against-gender-based-violence-on-valentines-day/
https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/pittsburgh-rises-against-gender-based-violence-on-valentines-day/#respondThu, 13 Mar 2014 01:56:42 +0000http://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/?p=996Over 300 people gathered on Friday February 14th, 2014, in Downtown Pittsburgh to participate in a global day of action to end gender based violence. The ANEW Rising Women’s Collective, New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice,One Billion Been Rising and Let’s Get Free came together to lead different parts of the day’s events. Over 70 different groups endorsed the action including labor rights leaders, women shelters, arts organizations, sororities and legal justice & human rights groups.

The festivities kicked off in a march and vigil against domestic violence and in memory of Ka’Sandra Wade, a local activist and friend who was killed last year by her ex-boyfriend. Her story stayed in the news because it exposed problems within police policies on responding to 911 calls for “unknown trouble.” Her family and advocates for women worked tirelessly to change those policies. Members of the ANEW Rising Women’s Collective gathered at the portico of the city council building to hold the vigil.

Participants and family members of Ka’Sandra Wade marched to the hotel where 1 Billion BEEN Rising was gathering and staged a die in to represent the over 100 women that have died due to domestic violence in Pennsylvania this year.

The One Billion BEEN Rising program started around noon. The youth really came out! There were so many enthusiastic young people. It was amazing!

The creative messaging was an awesome presence! While it felt so different having the event inside at the hotel because Market Square was a dangerous sheet of ice, all the banners and signs really transformed the place. In months leading to the event many volunteers worked at the Neighborhood Print Shop in Braddock to screen-print placards, patches and posters for the action. A local men’s group that organizes to unlearn and challenge sexism made some beautiful signs that were meant to be held by men. They said things like, “I love feelings. Violence against women is a mens’ issue. Gentle and proud. Men can change.” A series of posters were generated based on Andrea Smith’s platform –what should organizing around ending gender based violence look like?

More volunteers created vibrant colorful fabric banners, including slogans from movements past and present – from the civil rights movement, “We must be tender with each other so we can be dangerous together” and, “ The Revolution Starts at Home” which is also the title of a book about intimate partner violence in the activist community. “No one is disposable,” read another banner – referencing a recent video series by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project outlining strategies for every day prison abolition.

The rally kicked off with a drum call by Abafazi and a libation by La’Keisha Wolfe. During the libation, water is offered to the earth to honor the ancestors in the African tradition. In addition to speaking the names of our ancestors, there was space created to honor loved ones lost to domestic violence and those that survived.

Our first dancer was Dr.Mythili Ramakrishna who performed in India last year as part of the 1 Billion Rising there. The dance, Bharatanatyam is the strictly traditional and pure form of classical dance that has survived in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent in spite of centuries of social and political upheavals. This 2000 year-old art is still as fresh and fascinating as it must have been when it inspired the brilliant sculptors who have left records of Bharatanatyam in the magnificent temples of Tamil Nadu.The word Bharatanatyam is made up of three elements- ‘Bha’ or Bhaava (expressions), ‘Ra’ or Raaga (musical melody), and ‘Ta’ or Taala (rhythm).

On this day Dr.Mythili Ramakrishna performed the dance form within the realms of feminine power. The world mother, as the female divinity is known in India, represents the synthesis of the feminine energies of the universe, and illustrates how the female principle of God, Shakti, is inseparable from Shiva, the male principle of God. This piece symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death. The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy — creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion, presented through fervor laden devotional poetry and rhythmic mnemonics, that create roiling waves of resounding beauty, energy, and a vision of a primordial energy of female power. The piece is called Shivoham and is composed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.

etta cetera, Bekezela Mguni and Ruth Martial read aloud A letter to our sisters, ourselves, and the movement for radical social change and liberation. This letter was collectively written by One Billion BEEN Rising crew in response to important criticism to Eve Ensler and the 1BR organization by many feminist leaders of color all over the world. The letter expresses solidarity with the women and communities that have been harmed by the racism within the One Billion Rising movement. Ruth also spoke about how for the last 25 years, February 14th has been a day of action for missing and murdered indigenous women in the United States and Canada for decades. The purpose of this day – Annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) is not only to honor and remember the women but to demand justice and an official inquiry. These murders and missing persons cases are almost never even investigated. Some blockades have just gone up in Mohawk territory to protest the lack of response just in the last few days. The article Ruth quoted was by Lauren Chief Elk of the Save Wiyabi Project and you can find it here.

Black Rapp Medusa (left) performed a powerful poem she wrote while she was incarcerated. She spoke of the many women she met while incarcerated in Texas who had been locked up for self defense.

La’Tasha Mayes (pictured right) of New Voices Pittsburgh; Women of Color for Reproductive Justice spoke about the case of Marissa Alexander. La’Tasha got the whole crowd wishing Marissa a Happy Valentine’s Day. In the beginning of March opposition to Marissa’s quest for justice escalated. The campaign website reads “Demonstrating a stunning abuse of power, Florida State Prosecutor, Angela Corey, announced that she aims to increase the prison sentence for Marissa Alexander from 20 to 60 years in the upcoming July 28th trial. In 2012, Alexander – an African American mother of three in Jacksonville, Florida — was sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 20 years for firing a warning shot upwards into a wall to defend her life from her abusive estranged husband. She caused no injuries. Alexander successfully appealed the unjust trial and was granted a new trial. In November 2013, after serving nearly three years in prison, she was released on bond to home detention until her new trial.”

“Yet as a consequence of winning the appeal to hopefully secure a more fair trial, Alexander now faces the alarming prospect that the original devastating sentence could be tripled in the new trial. In the upcoming trial, Corey says she intends to seek three 20 year sentences for Alexander to be served consecutively rather than concurrently, tripling the mandatory minimum to 60 years.”

“Free Marissa Now member and victim’s advocate, Sumayya Fire, stated, “Remember that this entire case boils down to a woman defending her life from her husband who attacked her, strangled her, threatened to kill her, whose beatings have sent her to the hospital and likely caused her to have premature labor. A husband who confirmed in a deposition that he beat her, that he was in a rage when he attacked her, and that he has beaten other women with whom he was involved. Remember that when Marissa Alexander fired her warning shot to save her own life, she caused no injuries. Now she’s facing the very real possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison for that act of self-defense. That should send a chill down the back of every person in this country who believes that women who are attacked have the right to defend themselves. Anyone who believes that domestic violence is unjust should be deeply shaken by Corey’s abusive prosecution of Marissa Alexander and should be advocating for Alexander’s freedom.”

Ruth, etta and Ngani calling our representatives about the nuisance ordinance while waiting for the DA’s office to come out! (pictured to right)

Ngani Ndimbie spoke on behalf of the the ACLU. Several towns in PA have so-called “nuisance” ordinances which punish tenants who call the police with eviction even if they are calling to report a serious crime such as domestic violence. This is what happened to Lakisha Briggs, of Norristown, PA, who was threatened with eviction after she called the police for protection from an abusive ex-boyfriend. The ACLU of Pennsylvania is representing Lakisha Briggs and will fight the Norristown ordinance in court, but there is still more to be done. In response to the case, legislators drafted House Bill No. 1796. If passed, HB 1796 will prevent tenants and landlords from being penalized for requesting police assistance. The bill has already passed in the State House and has made its way to the State Senate. Contact your state Senator and urge him or her to support HB 1796.

Ginny Hildebrand from Stop Sexual Assault in the Military performed a chilling folk song that outlined four different scenarios highlighting forms of sexual violence with the chorus sounding – “if it could happen to you it could happen to me”. Joseph Hall, our amazing sound technician, read the man prayer and it was echoed by people who identify as men.

Additional expressive and motivating performances were presented by the Improve Dance Troupe – Interplay, The Raging Grannies, and the poet Joy Yejide KMT, who posed the question, “How can you be silent when your silence is violent? Our silences are killing us.”

“30 years is too much time! Self Defense is not a crime! Free Charmaine Now!”

Members of Let’s Get Free – The Women and Trans Prisoner Defense Committee took the stage wearing soft ball style Free Charmaine t-shirts. Charmaine’s mother, Donna Hill, and Attorney Bret Grote, spoke about the tragic details of this case.

Charmaine Pfender was 18 years old when she took a life in self-defense and 19 years old when she was sentenced to life-without-parole for protecting herself against rape. She has served 30 years in prison. When the man she was on a date with pulled a knife and attempted to rape her, Charmaine struggled back, reached for a gun and fired a warning shot. When she tried to flee her attacker, he chased after her with a knife in hand, so she shot and killed him. Charmaine should never have been convicted of murder. She fought for her life against a knife-wielding man who was attempting to rape her. This is self-defense, not a crime. Donna asked everyone present to join her and Charmaine’s supporters in a march to the courthouse.

With the enthusiastic sounds of the Mayday Marching Band, all the beautiful banners and balloons, it really was a Valentine’s Day march – bursting with bright colors and messages of love. Let’s Get Free, The Women in Prison Defense Committee along with Charmaine’s mother, Donna Hill, Attorney Bret Grote, and a delegation of approximately 20 community leaders and concerned citizens braved the metal detectors and delivered chocolates and a letter wrapped in red ribbon to Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala calling upon him to re-open Charmaine’s case and to drop the charges against her. Meanwhile, the band and merry activists held down the court yard that sits in the middle of the building. Echoes of their songs could be heard through the halls, and curious lawyers, court attendees, and city workers lined the windows looking down at the colorful demonstration that circled the fountain.

Holding it down in the courtyard.

The delegation was told that Zappala was not in his office and was asked to wait for a long time to deliver the letter, in spite of the face that the campaign made a point to inform his office that they would be delivering the letters a week prior to the action. Finally, the spokesperson of the DA’s agreed to meet with Donna and Bret. While they listened, the office seemed to pass the buck and responded dismissively – “Let me refer you to an office in the Northside.” “Don’t waste your money sending postcards for your cause.” “Our office doesn’t investigate prosecutorial misconduct.” The delegation left the courthouse feeling undeterred and unsurprised by the response and walked into the loving arms of the 25 or so supporters who were STILL waiting and chanting in the court yard! Donna symbolically liberated a teddy bear from inside a balloon – “We WILL free my daughter.” We left the courtyard with the words of Assata Shakur on our lips, “It is our Duty to Fight for Our Freedom! It is our Duty to Win! We must love each other and support each other! We have nothing to lose but our chains!”

Zappala writes, “Ms. Pfender was convicted by a jury of several crimes including first degree murder in March of 1985. Although my jurisdiction in this case has long been relinquished, I have nonetheless assigned an assistant to review the transcripts of the testimony in the trial. That assistant has been directed to communicate with the attorney who has contacted the office on Ms. Pfender’s behalf.” While he is distancing himself from any obligation to do more than a review of the transcript, his prompt response and promise of review demonstrates a positive first step in the newly launched campaign to Free Charmaine!

]]>https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/pittsburgh-rises-against-gender-based-violence-on-valentines-day/feed/0DSC_0743_edited-1-11billionpghbecimage_3stewyDSC_0220_edited-1DSC_0277_edited-1mythDSC_0393_edited-1blackrapplatashab randiIMG_1289crowedyeaIMG_1207imageIMG_1283IMG_1281IMG_1301DSC_0727_edited-1DSC_0705_edited-1Show some Love for Marissa Alexander – Dedicate a song! Throw down for the cause!https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/show-some-love-for-marissa-alexander-dedicate-a-song-throw-down-for-the-cause/
https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/show-some-love-for-marissa-alexander-dedicate-a-song-throw-down-for-the-cause/#respondMon, 17 Feb 2014 01:00:36 +0000http://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/?p=992A couple days ago was Valentine’s Day — show your love for Marissa Alexander and other survivors of domestic violence. Be an inspiration to everyone targeted by policies of mass incarceration. Dedicate your song here — and make a donation here http://igg.me/at/freemarissa2. We will love you forever!

It will take $1000 a day over the next 24 days to make our goal of $30,000 in this fundraising round. Hope the campaign can get a big boost today with your help and then keep that momentum going. Please donate, dedicate your song, forward and share, share, share!

Due to the ongoing inclement weather, the icy and snowy condition of Market Square and our desire to create the best experience for this day of action, @NewVoicesPgh is moving @1BillionPgh indoors to the DoubleTree Hotel Downtown Pittsburgh, 1 Bigelow Square (near the corner of 6th Avenue and Ross Street)!

Please share, post, tweet, email and text over the next 24 hours to ensure everyone knows the new location. Thanks for your understanding and support. Stay tuned to this event page and onebillionrisingpgh.org. For more information, call 412.450.0290 or email 1billionpgh@gmail.com.

PARKING!! – The on street parking takes quarters and credit cards from the those box things. They allow you 2 hours.

The Double Tree has a parking garage and The rates are $8 for 2-4 hours Then it goes up – $12, $16, $24 there is also 2 hour on street parking on the side of the hotel. The parking attendant thought he could accommodate us – didn’t want to promise because you can never be sure how many guest there will be.

The convention center lot is $10 – 12 minute walk Walking Directions HERE
but might fill up quick because of the Car show thats happening there.

​There is also a lot at 15th and smallman which is 8 bucks and a 12 minute walk- near the heinz history museum​​ Here are walking directions

]]>https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/new-1bbr-location-doubletree-hotel-downtown/feed/01billionpghDoubleTreeHotelDon’t Forget to Learn the Dance!https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/dont-forget-to-learn-the-dance/
https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/dont-forget-to-learn-the-dance/#respondWed, 12 Feb 2014 20:15:01 +0000http://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/?p=845Mirrored Version of the How to video here!
]]>https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/dont-forget-to-learn-the-dance/feed/0DSC_0006-21billionpghCheckpoints Are Violence Against Womenhttps://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/checkpoints-are-violence-against-women/
https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/checkpoints-are-violence-against-women/#respondWed, 12 Feb 2014 18:10:14 +0000http://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/?p=830Jasiri X of 1HOOD just back from Palestine.

Hip Hop Educator and performer K-Rockz will be participating in our program!

Check out this piece that features K-Rockz talking about the 1,000’s of students identified as homeless youth in Pittsburgh.

]]>https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/checkpoints-are-violence-against-women/feed/01billionpghkroczIn the Blood of Our Veins Liberation Runs – We are Standing on the Shoulders of the Ancient Oneshttps://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/in-the-blood-of-our-veins-liberation-runs-we-are-standing-on-the-shoulders-of-the-ancient-ones/
https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/in-the-blood-of-our-veins-liberation-runs-we-are-standing-on-the-shoulders-of-the-ancient-ones/#respondWed, 12 Feb 2014 02:32:45 +0000http://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/?p=820Heart Led Rebellion by Climbing Poetree gives praise to those rising before us!
]]>https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/in-the-blood-of-our-veins-liberation-runs-we-are-standing-on-the-shoulders-of-the-ancient-ones/feed/0unnamed1billionpghCountries and Communities Around the World are Rising!https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/countries-and-communities-around-the-world-are-rising/
https://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/countries-and-communities-around-the-world-are-rising/#respondTue, 11 Feb 2014 23:05:07 +0000http://onebillionrisingpgh.wordpress.com/?p=806Peru is Rising against sexual harassment on the streets. The Construction Workers Union – perceived to be the perpetrators of sexual harassment – is being invited to head the campaign – thereby being accountable, and also engaging them to be part of the solution. They are launching their OBR “Free From Sexual Harassment” campaign. Lead up events include: A media-covered signature participation, flash mobs beginning in January to spread the campaign, and on 9 February – a half-marathon or “Stride for Justice” to encourage family participation for the central event in Lima on 14 February.

Nigeria is Rising to continue their fight to end child marriages – as well as holding media campaigns to highlight the legalization of violence in communities.

Guatemala is Rising to focus on judicial agencies – courts and the military – and looking at laws to protect women – on the back of a recent major success in Guatemala law – where the law criminalizes a boyfriend, partner or abuser if the woman becomes pregnant and is below 14 years of age, and the law that marrying age has to be 18 years old for women. Guatemala is also Rising to highlight indigenous women and their vision of justice, with performances of “The Vagina Monologues” to facilitate discussions on justice, leading up to 14 February where they will have a huge gathering at the Central Plaza at 10am, converging outside the Centro De Justicia at 3pm for a huge event.

Bangladesh is Rising to lobby political parties to bring legislation to protect women at the forefront, and has programs planned across the country in the months leading up to 14 February, engaging men in the process.

Los Angeles is Rising to promote rape awareness and sexual assault in the military – engaging courts, local police and sheriff departments as part of their Rising.

Major women’s organizations and networks are coming together in Germany – including an association of women lawyers – to Rise together.

Haiti is Rising to highlight the impact of the earthquake on women and girls with the campaign “Rise for the Living – Rise for The Dead” and with a targeted campaign reaching out to police officers and courts for renewal and recovery called “Bring Love to Unloved Places”. One Billion Rising for Justice will also be part of their annual Mardi-Gras event. Haiti is Rising for economic justice – and for equality for all women in Haiti.

There will be Risings in Prisons in America.

The UK is gearing up for a huge One Billion Rising for Justice campaign with OBR workshops on what Justice is in the UK context, planned across the country starting in October.

The Philippines is Rising against militarization, corporate greed, mining, economic injustice and labor exploitation, and the plundering done by a corrupt government and foreign countries that severely impacts women and girls – with the campaign “Rage Against Impunity” and with arts festivals and events planned, including “Theatre Revolution week”, “Art in Protest” events among others. On 14 February – thousands of women’s groups headed by the Gabriela network, and their partner groups – will be marching and protesting outside the Department of Justice, the Presidential palace and the House of Congress – culminating in a huge protest concert in the evening. The campaign has lead up events incorporating the 16 Days of Activism beginning on 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, with speak outs, discussion forums, media gatherings, and flash-mobs around the country.

India just finished a 3-day One Billion Rising for Justice meeting – where the focus on the campaign will be on the people’s movement, on land, on environmental and economic injustice – and are planning to hold women’s tribunals leading up to 14 February.

Migrant groups around the world – led by Justice for Domestic Workers in the UK, and the Migrant Filipino workers network in 22 countries – are Rising to uphold better rights for domestic and migrant workers everywhere – and to end modern day slavery.

Mongolia is Rising – with the Beautiful Hearts organization leading a campaign highlighting the effects of sexual abuse.

Italy launched One Billion Rising for Justice with huge flash-mobs on beaches all across the country, and with V-Day performances.

Myanmar is Rising and is holding OBR arts empowerment workshops in November in preparation for their campaign.

The Gambia is Rising for Justice to end female genital mutilation.

NGO’s across the UK working to end labor exploitation in sweatshops around the world – are Rising to highlight the plight of workers, the responsibility of consumers, and the fight for a Livable Wage.

In South Africa, Johannesburg has “Rising for Justice 2014, for the restoration of human dignity” as its theme, and will be looking at the judiciary, the police, the evidence gathering and investigation of rape/domestic violence cases, the failure to prosecute, and the sentencing as part of their campaign.

Pakistan is Rising with a V-Men campaign – to engage men and boys to end violence against women and girls.

As part of their campaign, Zimbabwe will look at justice for disabled people and their theme is “taking the police force back into the community” – engaging the police and educating the Victim units in the police force on sensitivity to survivors who come forward for help.

US campuses are doing “Campus Rising” events to demand an end to the culture of rape in colleges across the country

Sudan is Rising with young women in particular leading the campaign. Their OBR campaign will be looking at problems with their court and judiciary system as huge obstacles towards getting justice for women.

Alianza Nacional de Campesinas – a network of farm-worker women in the US and Mexico, are Rising for Justice for women farm-workers and immigrant women, who are often made invisible in terms of the law.

Syrian women from “Syrian Women for Peace” are Rising for Justice with a preliminary event – a photo documentary on Syrian women featuring real stories about their lives and their justice issues. They have already created a One Billion Rising song about “a sad city: a city that has been destroyed” – and are Rising to show how women have a desire to live, and to sing – despite being in the midst of war.